Vaginal mucous discharge and cell components were examined twice a day throughout the gestation period in the Chinese hamster. On the following day of copulation, day 0 of pregnancy, plug in vagina and sperms in the smear were clearly observed. Populations of exfoliated cells represented the diestrous stage if the females conceived after copulation. In case of pseudopregnancy, the proestrous stage reappeared on day 11 following copulation. On day 7 of pregnancy, aqueous mucin-like vaginal discharge was found in 10.8 % cases and was found in 82.6 % cases on day 11 of pregnancy. Hemorrhagic mucous discharge was observed in 19.5 % of pregnant animals on day 12 of pregnancy and in 89.1 % on day 14. This hemorrhagic mucous discharge lasting for 2 or 4 days was followed by the sticky mucin in most cases. An increase of maternal body weight was noted from day 9 or 10 of pregnancy onward. Pregnancy in the Chinese hamster can be diagnosed as early as day 10 following copulation by examining the vaginal mucous discharge, cell components of vaginal smear and the maternal body weight gain.

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Congenic DKIR mice, having a resistant gene for Salmonella enteritidis infection from C3H/He mice on a genetical background of DKI, were infected with M. tuberculosis, L. monocytogenes, and Ps, aeruginosa, and the susceptibility was compared with that of DKI and C3H/He mice. DKIR and C3H/He were more susceptible to infection with M. tuberculosis than DKI. To L. monocytogenes infection, C3H/He mice were most resistant, and DKIR were slightly more resistant than DKI. The susceptibility of mice to Ps. aeruginosa infection was more closely related to the opsonin level of individual mice to the strain differences.

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Electrocardiographical characteristics in A-B lead and limb leads were investigated in 49 Shiba goats of both sexes aging 1 to 49 months bred in Stock Farm of Tokyo University. Vectorcardiograms in the heart-orthogonal lead system were also recorded in 4 goats. The results obtained are summarized as follows : 1) ECG in A-B lead along the longitudinal heart axis appeared in the positive P and T waves and the rS or QS type of the QRS complex, and the patterns were much similar to those of a sheep. 2) The ECG patterns in limb leads showed a considerable variation, showing remarkably varied the mean electrical heart axes calculated from standard limb lead I and III. 3) With age in month were observed a prolongation in RR interval and a reduction in the amplitude of S wave in A-B lead. 4) From the vectorcardiograms, the excitation in the ventricles was presumed to be directed from the apex to the heart base.

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Mycoplasmas were detected in 87 (40.8%) of 213 specimens collected from 42 apparently healthy and 14 dead cats used for experimental purposes. These organisms were isolated from conjunctivae (4/51 : 7.8%), oral cavities (46/52: 88.5%), nasal cavities (30/55: 54.5%), prepuces (2/21: 9.5%), vaginas (3/30: 10.0%) and lungs (2/4 : 50.0%) . A total of 167 strains cloned from these positive cultures was differentiated into 3 groups on the basis of their various biological characteristics as well as serological properties determined by the growth inhibition test. There were 26 strains identified as M. felis, 138 as M. gateae, and 3 as M. feliminutum. M. felis was only isolated from the conjunctivae, oral and nasal cavities, whereas M. gateae was found to be widely distributed in both the upper respiratory and urogenital tracts, but never isolated from the conjunctivae. M. feliminutum was only isolated from the oral cavities. This is the first isolation of these mycoplasma species from a feline origin in Japan.

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The stability of several components in monkey, dog and rat sera were examined after storing at 4°C, -20°C and -80°C. Most components remained stable for 6 months or more at -20°C and -80°C, but only for 2 weeks at 4°C. Some components, e. g. GPT, GOT, LDH, Al-P and creatinine, changed earlier to various extent, most remarkably at -20°C. When serum samples are stored, the following factors must be taken into account : animal species, storage time and temperature, and test items.

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A simple monitor was developed for measuring the drinking behavior activity of small laboratory animals. The monitor was designed to measure exclusively for counting licks of animal on the water dispenser attached to the bottle using touch limit switch. Using the monitor, IVCS male mice aged 30 weeks showed high drinking behavior activity around the time for lighting on (5 : 00) and off (19.00) .

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A survey on endo-parasites in conventionally (Cv) and barrier-sustained (BS) mice and rats was carried out to determine a parasitological status from July 1974 to March 1976. Four protozoans ; Tritrichomonas muris, Giardia muris, Hexamita muris and Octomitus pulcher were demonstrable in BS animals. In addition to 4 protozoasn described above, in Cv rats 2 protozoans (Chilomastix bettencourti and Entamoeba muris) and 2 helminths (Syphacia muris and Trichosomoides crassicauda) and in Cv mice 1 protozoan (Entamoeba muris) and 3 helminths (Hymenolepis nana, Syphacia obvelata and Aspiculuris tetraptera) were detected. Hexamita muris and Giardia muris were demonstrated transiently at the beginning of the survey in all the BS colonies tested. However, they disappeared later. While other protozoans, O. pulcher and T. muriss, were persistently demonstrable.

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